Self-supporting nesting cart

Claim 2

A self-supporting combination end and side nesting cart, comprising: a front and a longitudinally spaced rear wheel type running gear, and rigid support means for each thereof; a structural network mounted in vertically spaced relation to the top main surface of each said support means, said network comprising two vertically extending and horizontally spaced end frame means and a rigid horizontally extending connection bridging both of said support means, said bridging connection having a transverse width not appreciably greater than that required to function as a structural support for said network; a spacer engaging and vertically interposed between said main surface of each said support means and said bridging connection; the length of at least one running gear along its wheel axis being a multiple dimension of the correspondinG transverse width of said bridging connection; each support means projecting laterally of both sides of the bridging connection whereby when one cart is nested with another cart, the bridging connection of one cart will overlay and be spaced from one support means of the other cart with said support means being positioned between both support means of the other cart; a shelf hingedly arranged on each of the two end frame means and adapted to bear in an upright position against the end frame means and in a horizontal position against said first mentioned bridging connection to establish two shelves in a horizontal position having a substantially continuous plane.

Claim 3

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 1, wherein said bridging connection is arranged with its longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of each said running gear and proximate to the center of the latter.

Claim 4

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 2, wherein the transverse distance between said bridging connection and one wheel of one running gear is at least equal to the transverse dimension of said bridging connection.

Claim 5

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 1, wherein the bottom of each shelf is recessed along its longitudinal dimension and in said horizontal position is telescoped over part of said bridging connection.

Claim 6

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 1, and a second bridging connection extending parallel to but vertically spaced from the first mentioned bridging connection.

Claim 7

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 5, wherein said second bridging connection is located at substantially the extreme upper end of or above each end frame means.

Claim 8

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 5, wherein said second bridging connection is located intermediate to the vertical ends of each of the frame means.

Claim 9

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 5, including a pair of shelves hingedly secured to each of said two end frame means and adapted to bear in an upright position against the common end frame means and in a horizontal position one of each said pair of shelves bearing against said first mentioned bridging connection and the other of each said pair of shelves bearing against said second bridging connection, to establish two vertically spaced substantially continuous shelves.

Claim 10

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 8, wherein the bottom of each shelf is recessed along its longitudinal dimension and in said horizontal position is telescoped over part of said bridging connection.

Claim 11

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 1, wherein each end frame means consists of a single centrally located frame post connected to said connection.

Claim 12

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 10, wherein the bottom of each main frame post terminates above the main surface of said support means.

Claim 13

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 1, wherein each end frame means comprises vertically extending corner posts and structural means interconnecting the corner posts.

Claim 14

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 12, wherein said structural means includes a centrally located vertically extending main frame post and horizontally extending rungs, and wherein each corner post has a common vertically extending discontinuity.

Claim 15

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 13, and a second bridging connection extending parallel to but vertically spaced from the first mentioned connection.

Claim 16

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 14, wherein said discontinuity is located in alignment to the heights of said second bridging connection and the vertical dimension of said discontinuity exceeds the corresponding dimension of said second bridging connection.

Claim 17

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 14, including a pair of shelves hingedly secured to each of said two end frame means and adapted to bear in an upright position against the common end frame means and in a horizontal position one of each said pair of shelves bearing against said first mentioned bridging connection and the other of each said pair of shelves bearing against said second bridging connection, to establish two vertically spaced substantially continuous shelves and wherein the shelves adapted for bearing against said second bridging connection are arranged in said upright position with their bottom ends above said discontinuity.

Claim 18

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 12, wherein the bottom of each corner post terminates above the main surface of said support means.

Claim 19

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 1, and latch means on said frame means for maintaining said shelves in an upright position.

Claim 20

A self-supporting combination end and side nesting cart according to claim 1, wherein the top of the support means for the front and the rear running gear are of substantially the same elevation.

Claim 21

A self-supporting combination end and side nesting cart according to claim 19, wherein the length of the support means of the front and the rear running gear are substantially the same.

Claim 22

A self-supporting combination end and side nesting cart according to claim 1, wherein the length of the support means of the front and the rear running gear are substantially the same.

Claim 23

A self-supporting combination end and side nesting cart according to claim 1, wherein the rotational axis of the hinging pivot is transverse to the length of the cart.

Claim 24

A self-supporting combination end and side nesting cart, comprising: a front and a longitudinally spaced rear wheel type running gear, and support means for each thereof; a structural network mounted in vertically spaced relation to the top main surface of each said support means, said network comprising two vertically extending and horizontally spaced end frame means and a rigid horizontally extending connection bridging both of said support means, said bridging connection having a transverse width not appreciably greater than that required to function as a structural support for said network; the length of at least one running gear along its wheel axis having a multiple dimension of the corresponding transverse width of said bridging connection; a spacer engaging and vertically interposed between said main surface of each said support means and said bridging connection; each support means projecting laterally of both sides of the bridging connection whereby when one cart is nested with another cart, the bridging connection of one cart will overlay and be spaced from one support means of the other cart with said support means being positioned between both support means of the other cart; and a shelf hingedly secured to one end frame means and adapted to bear in an upright position against the end frame means and in a horizontal position against said first mentioned bridging connection, the bottom of the shelf being recessed along its longitudinal dimension and in said horizontal position being telescoped over part of said bridging connection.

Claim 25

A self-supporting combination end and side nesting cart, comprising: a front and a longitudinally spaced rear wheel type running gear, and support means for each thereof; a structural network mounted in vertically spaced relation to the top main surface of each said support means, said network comprising two vertically extending and horizontally spaced end frame means and a rigid horizontally extending connection bridging both of said support means, said bridging connection having a transverse width not appreciably greater than that required to function as a structural support for said network; the length of at least one running gear along its wheel axis having a multiple dimension of the corresponding transverse width of said bridging connection; a spacer engaging and vertically interposed between said main surface of each said support means and said bridging connection; each support means projecting laterally of both sides of the bridging connection whereby when one cart is nested with another cart, the bridging connection of one cart will overlay and be spaced from one support means of the other cart with said support means being positioned between both support means of the other cart; and a shelf hingedly secured to one end frame means and adapted to bear in an upright position against the end frame means and in a horizontal position against said first mentioned bridging connection, the bottom of the shelf being recessed along its longitudinal dimension and in said horizontal position being telescoped over part of said bridging connection.

Claim 26

A self-supporting combination end and side nesting cart, comprising: a front and a longitudinally spaced rear wheel type running gear, and support means for each thereof; a structural network mounted in vertically spaced relation to the top main surface of each said support means, said network comprising two vertically extending and horizontally spaced end frame means and a rigid horizontally extending connection bridging both of said support means, said bridging connection having a transverse width not appreciably greater than that required to function as a structural support for said network; the length of at least one running gear along its wheel axis having a multiple dimension of the corresponding transverse width of said bridging connection; a spacer engaging and vertically interposed between said main surface of each said support means and saiD bridging connection; each support means projecting laterally of both sides of the bridging connection whereby when one cart is nested with another cart, the bridging connection of one cart will overlay and be spaced from one support means of the other cart with said support means being positioned between both support means of the other cart; each end frame means comprising vertically extending corner posts each having a common vertical discontinuity, a centrally located vertically extending main frame post and horizontally extending rungs connecting said corner posts and main frame post at each said end.

Claim 27

A self-supporting combination end and side nesting cart, comprising: a front and a longitudinally spaced rear wheel type running gear, and support means for each thereof; a structural network mounted in vertically spaced relation to the top main surface of each said support means, said network comprising two vertically extending and horizontally spaced end frame means and a rigid horizontally extending connection bridging both of said support means, said bridging connection having a transverse width not appreciably greater than that required to function as a structural support for said network; the length of at least one running gear along its wheel axis having a multiple dimension of the corresponding transverse width of said bridging connection; a spacer engaging and vertically interposed between said main surface of each said support means and saiD bridging connection; each support means projecting laterally of both sides of the bridging connection whereby when one cart is nested with another cart, the bridging connection of one cart will overlay and be spaced from one support means of the other cart with said support means being positioned between both support means of the other cart; each end frame means comprising vertically extending corner posts each having a common vertical discontinuity, a centrally located vertically extending main frame post and horizontally extending rungs connecting said corner posts and main frame post at each said end.

Claim 28

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 24, and a shelf hingedly secured to one end frame means and adapted to bear in an upright position against the end frame means and in a horizontal position against said first mentioned bridging connection.

Claim 29

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 25, wherein a shelf is hingedly arranged on each of the two end frame means.

Claim 30

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 26, wherein the two shelves in their horizontal position form a substantially continuous plane.

Claim 31

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 25, wherein the bottom of each shelf is recessed along its longitudinal dimension and in said horizontal position is telescoped over part of said bridging connection.

Claim 32

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 24, wherein said bridging connection is arranged with its longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of each said running gear and proximate to the center of the latter.

Claim 33

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 29, wherein the transverse distance between said bridging connection and one wheel of said running gear is at least equal to the transverse dimension of said bridging connection.

Claim 34

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 24, and a second bridging connection extending parallel to but vertically spaced from the first mentioned bridging connection.

Claim 35

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 31, wherein said second bridging connection is located at substantially the extreme upper end of or above each end frame means.

Claim 36

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 31, wherein said second bridging connection is located intermediate to the vertical ends of each of the frame means.

Claim 37

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 31, and a pair of shelves hingedly secured to each of said two frame means and adapted to bear in an upright position against the common end frame means and in a horizontal position one of each said pair of shelves bearing against said first mentioned bridging connection and the other of each said pair of shelves bearing against said second bridging connection, to establish two vertically spaced substantially continuous shelves.

Claim 38

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 34, and latch means on said frame means for maintaining said shelves in an upright position.

Claim 39

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 31, wherein said discontinuity is located substantially in alignment to the heights of said second bridging connection and the vertical dimension of said discontinuity exceeds the corresponding dimension of said second bridging connection.

Claim 40

A self-supporting nesting cart according to claim 24, and a shelf hingedly secured to said corner posts and adapted to bear in an upright position against said corner posts and in a horizontal position against said first bridging connection.

Claim 41

A self-supporting combination end and side nesting cart according to claim 24, wherein the top of the support means for the front and the rear running gear are of substantially the same elevation.

Claim 42

A self-supporting combination end and side nesting cart according to claim 38, wherein the length of the support means of the front and the rear running gear are substantially the same.

Claim 43

A self-supporting combination end and side nesting cart according To claim 24, wherein the length of the support means of the front and the rear running gear are substantially the same.

Claim 44

A self-supporting combination end and side nesting cart according to claim 24, wherein the rotational axis of the hinging pivot is transverse to the length of the cart.

Claim 45

A self-supporting combination end and side nesting cart, comprising: a front and a longitudinally spaced rear wheel type running gear, and rigid support means for each thereof, the top of said support means for the front and the rear of said running gear being of substantially the same length and elevation; a structural network mounted in vertically spaced relation to the top main surface of each said support means, said network comprising two vertically extending and horizontally spaced end frame means and a rigid horizontally extending connection bridging both of said support means, said bridging connection having a transverse width not appreciably greater than that required to function as a structural support for said network; a spacer engaging and vertically interposed between said main surface of each said support means and said bridging connection; the length of at least one running gear along its wheel axis being a multiple dimension of the corresponding transverse width of said bridging connection; each support means projecting laterally of both sides of the bridging connection whereby when one cart is nested with another cart, the bridging connection of one cart will overlay and be spaced from one support means of the other cart with said support means being positioned between both support means of the other cart; a shelf hingedly secured to one end frame means and adapted to bear in an upright position against the end frame means and in a horizontal position against said bridging connection.

Claim 46

A self-supporting combination end and side nesting cart, comprising: a front and a longitudinally spaced rear wheel type running gear, and rigid support means for each thereof, the top of said support means for the front and the rear of said running gear being of substantially the same length and elevation; a structural network mounted in vertically spaced relation to the top main surface of each said support means, said network comprising two vertically extending and horizontally spaced end frame means and a rigid horizontally extending connection bridging both of said support means, said bridging connection having a transverse width not appreciably greater than that required to function as a structural support for said network; a spacer engaging and vertically interposed between said main surface of each said support means and said bridging connection; the length of at least one running gear along its wheel axis being a multiple dimension of the corresponding transverse width of said bridging connection; each support means projecting laterally of both sides of the bridging connection whereby when one cart is nested with another cart, the bridging connection of one cart will overlay and be spaced from one support means of the other cart with said support means being positioned between both support means of the other cart; a shelf hingedly secured to one end frame means and adapted to bear in an upright position against the end frame means and in a horizontal position against said bridging connection.